Assembly bracket



I United- States Patent [111 3,545,712

[72] Inv nt r IASHQM- Ems 3,113,358 12/1963 Zel] et a] 287/20.924 gearpgn lilsills 3,403,641 10/ 1968 Baker 108/152 [22] Filed l 9 FORE! N P E [45] Patented DEC. 8, 19,70 83 I 4 3 9 0 G GB NTS 248/224 [73] Assignee Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc. teat m Peoria, Illinois Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier a corporation of Delaware Assistant Examiner-J. Franklin Foss AttorneyWilson and Geppert [54] ABSTRACT: An assembly bracket for use in cabinets and for shelves where a pair of identical bracket members are utilized n 8/2243 with one bracket member being reversed relative to the other l08/l52: 287/2 member; each bracket member :having a mounting portion [Iii-n 12/02 with a raised central portion provided with an opening. A 0f flange is integral an edge of the raised central portion and 223, 225, 73, 300, 499, 498; 287/20.925, 2092 h s an embossment with a detent edge. In use, the flange of 108/ 152 one bracket member is received in the pocket formed by the raised central rtion of the opposite bracket member with [56] References Cited the embossmeii t on the flange received in the opening in the UNlTED STATES PATENTS raised portion of the opposite bracket member to retain the 2,652,998 9/1953 Miller 248/497 bracket members assembled.

ASSEMBLY BRACKET The present invention relates 'to a novel assembly bracket and more particularly to the combination of a pair of identical bracket members for use in a cabinet or for shelves or similar constructions.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of an assembly bracket for a cabinet or similar structure where a pair of bracket members are utilized which are identical in configuration and are reversed relative to each other in use. These bracket members are secured to the cabinet and partition or shelf and joined together to provide a rigid connection without any additional coupling means.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an assembly bracket for a' cabinet or similar structure where a pair of bracket members form a positive and strong interlock therebetween in the assembly of the cabinet members. Each bracket member has a raised central portion forming, with the cabinet surface to which the bracket member is secured, a pocket adapted to receive a flange of the other bracket member having a detent thereon. The flange is'formed integral with the raised central portion of the bracket member along one edge thereof.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an assembly bracket having a positive and strong interlock between a pair of assembled bracket members created by the insertion of the flange of one bracket member under the raised portion of the opposite bracket member. The raised portion of each bracket member has a central opening while the flange of each bracket member has an embossment with an inner detent edge adapted to engage an edge of the opening of the opposite bracket member.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of an assembly bracket which is easily stamped out of sheet metal and will reduce inventories of parts and provide ease of replacement as the two bracket members in an assembly set are identical in configuration.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of formation and assembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby. v

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an explodedperspective view of two parts of a cabinet structure having the assembly bracket members of the present invention secured thereon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cabinet parts and assembly bracket members prior to assembly.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembly bracket members and cabinet parts assembled.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an assembly bracket member.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the assembly bracket member.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the assembly bracket member.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 disclose cabinet parts '10 and 11 with a pair of assembly bracket members 12,12 thereon; the edge 13 of cabinet part abutting the surface 14 of part 11. Such parts may be the walls of a cabinet, the shelves'in a bookcase or cabinet or other similar construction. The assembly bracket members 12 and 12' are identical in configuration as shown in FIGS. 4-6 and are reversed relative to each other for application to and assembly of the parts of the cabinet.

The bracket members 12 and 12' are identical and each is provided with a mounting portion having mounting wings 15,15, each wing 15 having an opening 16 to receive a suitable fastener such as a screw 17, to secure the bracket member 12 or 12' to the cabinet part 10 or 11. Between the mounting wings 15 is a central raised portion 18 having an enlarged opening 19 therein; the raised portion 18 with the part 10 or 11 formin a pocket 21.

Along e inner edge 22 of the raised portion 18 is an integral flange 23 fonned so that the included angle between the flange 23 and the raised portion 18 is greater than The flange 23 has a generally triangular embossment 24 formed thereon with a raised detent edge 25 forming the base of the triangle adjacent the intersection of the flange 23 and the raised portion 18 at the edge 22.

In use, the bracket members 12 and 12' are secured in proper alinement on the cabinet parts 10 and 11, respectively, with the part 11 below the part 10. Relative movement such as upward movement of the part 11 relative to the part 10 causes the flange 23 of bracket member 12 to enter the pocket 21 formed between the raised portion 18 of bracket member 12 and the part 10. The flange 23 is inserted until the parts 10 and 11 abut, and theembossment 24 of bracket member 12 having the detent edge 25 snaps into the opening 19 in the raised portion 18 of the bracket member 12. The detent edge 25 prevents a forcible separation of the bracket members 12 and 12 without removal of the screws 17,17. When assembled, the flange 23 of the bracket member 12 abuts and rests on the outer surface of the raised portion 18 of the bracket member 12' as seen in FIG. 3.

While the improved assembly bracket has been shown and described as being advantageously applicable to use in a cabinet, it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily limit the scope or the utility of the improved features by virtue of this illustrative embodiment.

I claim:

1. An assembly bracket consisting of a pair of identical bracket members, each member having a mounting portion including a pair of mounting wings separated by a central raised portion having an opening therein, each bracket member being mounted on the surface of a part to be assembled and said central raised portion forming a pocket with the surface of the member, a flange integral with and positioned at an angle of slightly greater than 90 relative to said central raised portion, and detent means on said flange cooperating with the opening in the central raised portion when the flange is received in the pocket of a second identical bracket member.

2. An assembly bracket as set forth in claim 1, in which said detent means on said flange includes an embossment having a detent edge adjacent the intersection of the flange with the raised central portion.

3. An assembly bracket as set forth in claim 1, in which, when the flange of the first bracket member is received in the pocket of the second bracket member, the flange of the second bracket member yieldably engages the outer surface of the raised central portion of the first bracket member.

4. An assembly bracket consisting of a pair of identical bracket members, each member having a mounting portion including a pair of mounting wings separated by a central raised portion, a flange integral with and extending generally perpendicular to and upward from an edge of said central raised portion, and detent means on said flange including a generally triangular embossment having a detent edge forming the base adjacent the intersection with the central raised portion, said central raised portion having an enlarged opening therein of a size to receive the embossment of the second identical bracket member, each bracket member being secured to the surface of a part, and said central raised portion forming a pocket with the'surface of the part, said pocket adapted to receive the flange of the second identical bracket member with the embossment and detent edge thereof received in the opening in the raised portion of said first bracket member.

5. An assembly bracket as set forth in claim 4, in which, when the flange of the second bracket member is received in the pocket formed by the first bracket member, the flange of the first bracket member yieldably engages the outer surface of the central raised portion of the second bracket member. 

